Since 2012, 575 nonprofit organizations have benefited from 5.8 million dollars in generous donations on this day.

Organizations large and small are participating in the event, which started at midnight and runs through 11:59 P.M. Valley Gives has been a great success over the years, bringing in a total of $5.8 million to community organizations since its inception.

These nonprofit groups are competing for incentives- some $185,000 in prizes are being offered to organizations beyond what they raise from individual donors.

“Valley Gives is just a fabulous, fun, engaging opportunity to really reach out to people,” said Kimberley Lee, vice president of development at CHD, or Center for Human Development. The organization helps more than 18,000 people each year and offer 70 services. “Our programs start as for children as young as 0 to 3. We have early intervention programs. We have adult day health programs. We have a number of significant programs that are helping with the opioid epidemic right now.” Many of those programs are made possible through community donations.

The New England Business Association, or NEBA, set up at a coffee shop in Longmeadow to show others how it helps more than 400 people each year find jobs, and also ask for financial support. “I would love a lot of people to help our community and donate it to our organization because we do a lot of good cause. We help people with disability or other barrier, find job opportunities, you know, so this is good,” said Kahntapaht Wilson, marketing coordinator for NEBA.

You don’t have to be passionate about a cause to make a difference. Valley Gives provides a list of participating organizations by category on its website, so you can decide how you want to invest your money, while also learning something about your community. For a link to the website to donate and for more information on Valley Gives Day, visit valleygivesday.org!